Apparatus for settling and classifying sand



May 26, 1931; J. M. MITCHELL APPARATUS FOR SETTLING AND CLASSIFYING SAND3 Sheets-Sheet l zlwwzntox hmerlfM/r/ze/A Filed Feb. 2'7, 1929 y 6,1931. J. M. MITCHELL 1,807,125

APPARATUS FOR SETTLING AND' GLASSIF'YING SAND Filed Feb. 27, 1929 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Zlwwmtoz Jzmea MMzlZc/LeZL y 1931- J. M. MITCHELL1,807,125

APPARATUS FOR SETTLING AND CLASSIFYING SAND Filed Feb. 2'7, 1929 sSheets- Sheet 5 li i ,Z

Z 29 J Z a i m J Patented May 26, 1931 PATENT' oFHcE JAMES MACDONALDMITCHELL, OF FLUSHING, NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR SETTLING Am oLAssrFYINGsaw) 7 Application filed February 27, 1928. Serial No. 343,189.

This invention relates to apparatus for settlingyand classifying sand.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a compact apparatus,requiring low head-room, and wherein sand settles out of liquid and isclassified.

Another object of the invention is. to provide an apparatus of thecharacter set forth, including a receiver with a series of receptaclesor pockets associated therewith and in which sand settles, thereceptacles or pockets being providedwith means for permitting periodicdischarge of the settled sand therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the charactersetforth, in which there is a flexible connection between the receiverand the individual receptacles or pockets, means being also providedformaintaining the pockets in elevated position while sand settlestherein, and permitting the pockets to drop after a predeterminedquantity of sand has accumulated.

Still another object of the invention isto provide an apparatusincluding a plurality of individual receptacles or pockets which havemovement in a vertical plane, stops being provided to limit the movementof the pockets, and which also have the efiect of jarring them, wherebyto prevent the sand from clinging to the sides-of the pocket and thusinsuring relatively complete discharge. Other objects of the inventionand the many advantages thereof will in part be obvious and in part morefully brought out as the description of the invention proceeds. In theaccompanying drawings, I have illustrated several practical embodimentsof my invention; but these are illustrative merely and are not to beconstrued as limiting the invention to the details of constructiontherein disclosed. The inventionis susceptible of a wide range ofmodification and equivalency falling within the scope thereof,

as defined in the appended claim.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 isa plan view of a sand settling and classifying apparatusconstructed in accordance with my invention; 7

Fig. 2is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, takensubstantially on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional 3-3. of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified form, the modification residingessentially in the means for supporting and counterbalancing thereceptacles or pockets;

Fig. 5 is a sectional'view, taken on line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the modified form illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of another modification, the changes residingprincipally in View, taken on line the mechanism for operating thevalves in the respective'receptacles or pockets; and

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the modified structure illustrated inFig. 7

Referring, now, to the drawings, the reference-numeral 1 indicates,generally, what I shall hereinrefer to as a. receiver, this comprising astructure having side walls suitably supported by frame members 2, andwhich isprovided with a bottom 3. Liquid containing sand is supplied tothe receiver from any convenient source through a feedbox 4,. and flowsthrough the receiver and out of the same atthe discharge-end 5. At thedischarge-end, a gate 6 is provided which maybe adjusted vertically,whereby the rate of flow of the liquid through the receiver is varied.By thus varying the rate of flow of the liquid, it is possible, ashereinafter more fully pointed out, to vary the classification of thesand which settles out of the liquid.

The bottom 3 of the receiver is in open communication with a pluralityof receptaclesorpockets 7, as many of these as may be desired beingprovided. Each of the receptacles or pockets 7 is secured to the bottom3 of the receiver by means of a flexible connection in the form of asheet 8 of flexible, and preferably waterproof,material, such asrubber-sheeting. The flexible sheet 8 is secured to the bottom 3 and tothe top edges of the pockets 7 by means of strips 9 and suitablesecuring bolts 10. By this arrangement, it will be seen that the pocketsor receptacles 7 have a flexible connection with the bottom 3 of thereceiver, and that the tops of the pockets stand in open communicationwith the receiver.

The pockets or receptacles 7 are maintained in elevated position and,thus, in alinement along the bottom 3 of the receiver, by suitablesprings or counterbalancing weights. In the embodiment illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2, springs 11 are provided for this purpose. The springs 11are provided with suitable collars 12 and the pockets or receptacles 7are provided with short plungers or pistons 13, passing through saidsprings and collars. The plungers 13 pass through apertures in asupporting channel 14: and are provided at their lower ends with stops15 which are designed to limit the movement of the pockets.

The supporting channel 14 is provided with an extension 16 against whichthe stop 15 contacts in the downward movement of the pocket, thus givinga certain jarring action or shock to the pockets, with the result thatthe sand which has settled therein is prevented from clingingto thesides of the pockets and is, therefore, more readily and completelydischarged. Upward movement of the pockets is limited by contact of thestop-member 15 with the supporting channel 14.

To permit discharge of the settled sand from the pockets or receptacles7, they are provided with any suitable number of discharge-openings 17which, while sand is settling in the receptacles, are normally closed bymeans of valves 18. The valves 18 are provided with valve stems 19which, at their lower ends, are mounted in supporting channels 20 bymeans of pins 21. The pins 21 are allowed some little clearance in thesupport ing channels in order that all of the valves may properly seatin the discharge openings of the respective pockets or receptacles.

Then the apparatus is in operation, and the receiver 1 and thereceptacles or pockets 7 are flooded, the pockets are maintained intheir uppermost position by means of the springs 11. Sand settles in thebottom of the respective pockets or receptacles 7 and, consequently, theweight of the pockets and their contents increases, the accumulation orsettling of sand continuing until the weight is suflicient to overcomethe supporting force of the springs 11. The pockets or receptacles 7will then drop, with the result that the discharge-openings 17 clear thevalves 18,

which at this time remain stationary, and, thus, the sand which hasaccumulated in the bottom of the pockets or receptacles is dischargedtherefrom. The downward movementor drop of the receptacles or pocketscontinues until the stop-member 15 strikes the member 16, at which timethe impact imparts to the pockets a arring action, thus assisting in thedischarge of the sand therefrom.

It will be understood that when the apparatus is flooded and additionalliquid containing sand is supplied-thereto, the liquid flows from thesupply end to the discharge end, the heavier particles. of sand settlingin the pocket nearest the supply end and the lighter particles settlingin the pocket nearest the discharge end. Sand of intermediateclassification will settle in the intermediate pocket or pockets. Byadjusting the end gate 6, the rate of flow ofthe liquid through thereceiver 1 may be varied; that is to say, if the end gate 6 is in itslowermost position,

the rate of flow of the liquid will be greater than when the gate is inits uppermost position. When the gate is low, the liquid flowscomparatively rapidly through the receiver, with the result that onlythe heavier particles or coarser sand have time to settle, the finerparticles being carried out of the apparatus with the tailings, throughthe discharge end 5. When the end gate 6 is in its upper position, therate of flow of the liquid is com paratively slow, with the result thatmore time is given for the settling of the sand out of the liquid, itbeing understood that the coarser sand settles first and, hence, in thepocket nearest the supply end, while the finer sand is carried alongwith the liquid towards the discharge end and finally settles in thelast of the series of receptacles or pockets.

' While any suitable number of dischargeopenings may be provided in eachof the receptacles or pockets 7, it is desirable, and as shown in thedrawings, to provide the last of the series of pocxets with a. greaternumber of discharge-openings than the others, because this pocketcontains the finer sand and, consequently, since this finer sand isdischarged only with difliculty, more open ings should be provided so asto insure a rather complete emptying of the sand therefrom.

In Fig.4, I have illustrated a modification of the apparatus heretoforedescribed, the modification residing principally in the means forsupporting the pockets or receptacles'in their uppermost position. Inthis modification, I make use of a counterweight lever 22 having aweight 23 thereon, this lever being of the form illustrated in Fig. 5,and being provided with two arms 24 and 25 which are located at oppositesides of the receptacles or pockets 7. These arms of the lever 22 aresuitably fulcrumed, as at 26,

and at their forward ends they support the receptacles or pockets 7which are provided with suitable supporting pieces 27 which rest freelyon the ends of the arms of the lever. This counterbalancing lever andthe weight which may be adjusted thereon are arranged to support thepocket in its normal, uppermost position while sand settles therein.After a predetermined time, and when a sufficient quantity of sand hasaccumulated in the bottom of the pocket to disturb the balance, thepocket drops, in the same manner as described in connection with theapparatus disclosed in Fig. 1, the discharge-openings in the pocketsthus clearing the valves and permitting the sand to escape therefrom.When a quantity of sand sufficient to restore the balance of the systemhas been discharged, the pockets will be elevated again to theiruppermost position by means of the counterbalance just described. Itwill be understood that, by reason of the use of the flexible sheet 8 bywhich the pockets are connected to the receiver, the desired range ofmovement of the pockets is effected without undue strain and, at thesame time,

the sheet 8 forms a substantially waterproof connection between thereceptacles and the receiver.

In order that the pockets may move with rapidity and, thus, receive fromthe contact with the stops 15 and 16 a sufficient jar to shake the sandloose, I prefer to employ some means for storing up energy as the sandsettles in the pockets. In connection with the counterbalance systemjust described, I have illustrated in Fig. 6 a spring clip 28, thepurpose of which is to delay upward movement of the counterbalance lever22 until such time as the weight of accumulated sand is so great as toovercome the efiect of the counterbalance weight as well as of thespring clip 28. Thus, when the arm 24 of the lever 22 is released fromthe spring clip 28, there is a sharp and sudden drop of the pocket 7with a consequent sharp and sudden contact of the stop-membersheretofore described, and thus the liberation of the sand from the sidesof the pocket is effectually assured. In the modification illustrated inFigs. 4 to 6. the stop includes a strap .29 secured to a frame-member 2and in which the arm 25 of the lever 22 is confined in its movements.

In Figs. 7 and 8, I have illustrated a further modification of myinvention, the departure from the disclosure heretofore made residingmainly in the provision of means for positively actuating the valves. Inthe embodiments heretofore described, actuation of the valves hasdepended upon the action of gravity. In the modification now underdissmall expense. Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, I have illustrated thereina receptacle 30 which at its bottom is provided with suitable dischargeopenings controlled by valves 31. The valves 31 are provided withvalve-stems 32 secured to levers 33 mounted on a rockshaft 34, the shaft34 being suitably journaled in bearings 35. The rock-shaft 34 isactuated through the links 36 and 37 which are connected to a plunger 38operating in any suitable solenoid 39. Upon the side of the receptacle30, I have provided a a suitablecontact-piece 40 which contacts with asimilar piece 41 on the framework 2 to close the circuit formed by thewires 42 and 43, it being understood that the wires 42 and 43 areconnected to any suitable source of electric current.

By referring particularly to Fig. 8, it will be seen that when aquantity of sand has accumulated in the bottom of the receptacle 30, itbegins to descend, and when the descent is suflicient to cause contactof the contactpieces 40 and 41, the circuit to the solenoid is completedwhereby the same is energized and, thus, the links 33 are actuated bythe rock-shaft 34 to withdraw the valves 31 from the discharge-openingsin the bottom of the receptacle. This provides a quick and certain meansfor periodically discharging the sand from the receptacles and may beoperated at slight expense and with little consumption of electriccurrent.

In this embodiment. the pocket 30 is provided with a guide 44 whichtravels through an aperture in an L-shaped plate 45. The guide 44 isprovided with a stop-shoulder 46 at its upper end and an enlargement 47at its lower end, these being arranged to contact with the member 45 toimpart asmall shock or jarring action to the pocket in its movements,both up and down.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that my invention willnow be clear to those skilled in'the art, and it Will be appreciatedthat I have provided an apparatus in which sand may be settled andsimultan-' I charged sand can be readily combined in various proportionsto meet screen specifications. It is, of course, understood thatsuitable means may be provided for receiving the sand as it isdischarged from the several pockets, and that the sand will be depositedtherein dewatered and classified with a sufficient degree of accuracyfor general purposes.

I claim:

In a sand settling and classifying ap-pa ratus, a frame, a. receiver forliquid and sand mounted on said frame, a settling pocket communicatingwith said receiver and slid ably mounted in said frame flexible means Iconnecting said pocket to said receiver, said pocket being provided Witha discharge opening, a stationary valve mounted on said frame andseating in said discharge opening, a counter-balance lever pivoted onsaid frame and contactingat one end With said pocket, and means on saidframe engaging said lever to prevent movement thereof until apredetermined quantity of sand has settled in said pocket.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

JAMES MACDONALD MITCHELL.

ns0z125

